• Programming Notes: There's been no baseball since Saturday though last night's signing deadline provided plenty of drama. The Washington Nationals managed to get their top five picks inked, added two of those picks to the 40-Man roster with big league deals and further stocked what is becoming a more and more impressive farm system every year. Tonight, however, the action shifts back to the field with Chien-Ming Wang stepping back on the mound for his fourth start of the season. Wang was scheduled to throw Sunday, but rain pushed him back to tonight when he'll make take on the Reds instead of the Philadelphia Phillies. Will the extra days of rest help the right-handed sinker-baller? Can Wang improve on his last outing? MASN HD, MLB.tv, 106.7 the FAN in DC, 1500 WFED, and Sirius/XM channel 183. Who's Watching the Nationals?
• LINKS AND LINKS AND...
NATS BEAT:
• "The Nationals signed their first five picks for roughly $16.5 million combined, smashing the signing bonuses recommended by Major League Baseball’s slot system with all five players." - "Anthony Rendon, other top Nationals draft picks go down to the signing-deadline wire" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• "As far as the number of impact players that we’re bringing into the system at once… I think this is a huge day in the franchise history of the Washington Nationals." - Roy Clark - "Nats beat the clock, sign top five draft picks" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Rizzo believed Purke saw something in the Nationals and wanted to play here." - "Rizzo said Purke was willing to make every effort to sign with Nationals" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "'We had a perfect combination of top-notch talent and polished, college players that are close to the big leagues.'" - Mike Rizzo - "Nats sign all top draft picks" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com
• "He built his reputation in baseball as a talent evaluator, first as a scout and later as a scouting director tasked with running drafts and signing players." - "Nationals make themselves "talk of the industry" with expensive night" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "The Nationals agreed to go that extra step for these two players, however, because they felt as an organization that both Purke and Rendon were advanced and close to the big leagues." - "Why the Nationals agreed to give Rendon and Purke major league deals" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Starting next year, Morse will likely go back to the outfield, because the Nationals expect Adam LaRoche or someone else to play first base." - "Inbox: Morse headed back to outfield" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "[Kylin] Turnbull had a commitment to the University of Oregon, and the Nationals lured him away from school by giving a signing bonus $100,000 more than the slot recommend by MLB." - "Nationals reach agreement with fourth-round choice Kylin Turnbull" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "'When those guys sit you down and say something to you, it not only means they’re probably telling the truth, it means that they care enough to tell you something,' Lannan said." - "Nats' Lannan benefited from timely chat with Hernandez" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Tonight, Thome hit the 599th and 600th home runs of his major league career in consecutive at-bats at Comerica Park in Detroit." - "Thome's milestone" - Phil Wood, MASNSports.com
• "'For us to land what we believe are four first-round picks and pay them accordingly, I think is a testament to the commitment of winning here in Washington,' general manager Mike Rizzo said." - "Nationals sign first four 2011 Draft picks" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "The Nationals lacked depth in their farm system even more than they lacked star power when Mike Rizzo took over the ship. Now they have both..." - "In their system, the Nationals have more quantity and quality" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Rodriguez, who has been on the disabled list since July 7 with a strained right oblique, underwent a battery of tests Monday, including an MRI." - "Rehabbing Rodriguez eager to get back in the game" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg will have his third rehab start on Wednesday for Class A Hagerstown against Lexington at 7:05 p.m. ET." - "Stephen Strasburg to start for Hagerstown on Wednesday" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "Strasburg will drop down a level to pitch at Hagerstown, which signifies nothing about Strasburg’s progress..." - "Stephen Strasburg’s next rehab start finalized" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "We need an inseparable combination of material and internal, or spiritual, progress." -
• NATS MINOR LEAGUE UPDATES:
• Class-A Hagerstown: "Hagerstown RHP Matt Swynenberg (6-1), the winning pitcher, was stellar in a piggy-back appearance, in which he allowed just one earned run on a home run, while surrendering just three hits, amidst three walks and a trio of strikeouts." - "RHP Matt Swynenberg Terrific en route to Suns' 5th Win in a Row" - Hagerstown Suns News
• Class-A Potomac: Steven Souza - 2 for 3, 1 2B, 1 BB; Adam Olbrychowski - 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K's - Potomac Nationals Scoreboard
• Double-A Harrisburg: "Harrisburg Senators' pitcher, RH Erik Arnesen, has been named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for games August 8 through August 14." - "Senators' Erik Arnesen Wins EL Pitcher of the Week" - Harrisburg Senators News
• "[Erik] Arnesen gradually ascended through the Nationals' system, culminating with a solid half-season for Triple-A Syracuse in 2010." - New father Erik Arnesen holds fast to his dream" - Brian Horowitz, nationals.com
• Triple-A Syracuse: "Monday's doubleheader between the Syracuse Chiefs and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees was cancelled due to constant rain and inclement weather." - "Chiefs and Yankees doubleheader cancelled" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• "Tuesday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com
• NATSTOWN:
• "Rizzo spoke openly about his pleasure in getting the top four draft picks under contract. 'It feels great. Our scouting staff worked extremely hard to identify the talent. It's often a difficult time-consuming, grinding process to get them signed.'" - "Nationals Proud of Deadline Deals; Sign Top Five Draft Picks" - Dave Nichols, NatsNewsNetwork
• "For the past couple of weeks I've been invited to be part of MASNsports.com's season-long initiative to welcome guest bloggers and allow them post stories to MASN's Nats Buzz site." - "Sharing some stories with our friends at MASN" - Mark Hornbaker, Washington Nationals Daily News
• "The big news from last night is that the Nationals not only spent $6 million on Rendon--they spent a total of nearly $12 million on their top four picks combined..." - "Washington Nationals: Large Market Spenders?" - Steven, FJB
• "What the public didn’t know came out in the press releases: Purke let the Nats do not only an in-depth physical but an MRI with the injected dye to highlight injuries within his shoulder." - "Nationals future considerably brighter w/ 2011 draft signing successes." - Nationals Arm Race
• "It certainly didn't come easily, but the Nationals have successfully signed their top 4 draft picks from the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft." - "Most Impactful Draft Ever for Nats?: We Think So." - Joe Drugan, Capitol Baseball
• "And the only things missing from Mike Rizzo's late night victory speech were a pie in the face, Silver Elvis wig, and Stan Kasten..." - "High Five!" - Nats Enquirer
• "Pitching, particularly starting pitching, has been a strength for the team for most of the season. Some of that credit has to go to Ramos..." - "Ramos Quietly Continuing Great Rookie Season" - Keara Dowd, Win for Teddy
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Marlins: "The Florida Marlins have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Jose Fernandez, the 14th overall selection in Major League Baseball's 2011 First-Year Player Draft." - "Marlins agree to terms with first-round Draft selection Jose Fernandez" - marlins.com: Official Press Release
• Mets: "From Generation K to recording his 300th save with the Mets, Jason Isringhausen’s career has come full circle." - "Mr. 300: Closer Jason Isringhausen Notches Milestone In New York Mets' Win Over San Diego Padres" - CBS New York
• Phillies: "His left shoulder was unable to loosen up after his last start and he struggled against the Nationals. Hamels finished just five innings and gave up three runs on six hits while walking four batters." - "Hamels Has MRI on Left Shoulder" - Pat Gallen, Phillies Nation
• Braves: "As they were preparing to introduce Craig Kimbrel to his first Major League Spring Training in 2010, members of the Braves organization were referring to him as 'the right-handed Billy Wagner.'" - "Braves' Craig Kimbrel has mentality to be great closer" - Mark Bowman, braves.com: News